Method and means for trapping and reclaiming porcelain frit



Ag. 17, 1965 s. FQRSHEE 3,201,272

METHOD AND MANS FOR TRAPPING AND RECLAIMING PORCELAIN FRIT Filed NOV.24, 1961 2' Sheets-Sheet 1 M LJ 2'? :Ez 1 www, W

ATTORNEY S. FORSHEE Mug. 17, 1965 METHOD AND MEANS FOR TRAPPING ANDREGLAIMINC- PORCELAIN FRIT Filed NOV. 24. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. SHEILA FORSHEE @QWQW.

ATTORNE Y United States Patent 3,201,272 METHD AND MEANS FUR TRAPPINGAND RECLAIMING .PRCELAIN FRIT Sheila Forshee, 1410 Iroquois, Detroit 14,Mich. Filed Nov. 24, 1961, Ser. No. 154,715 Claims. (Cl. 117-102) Thisinvention relates to the art of porcelainizing manufactured objects,such as refrigerators, stoves, bath tubs and the like, wherein aporcelain or ceramic finish is applied to said objects by means of sprayguns, jets or the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel method and means fortrapping and reclaiming the porcelain or ceramic frit used in suchoperations.

Heretofore industry has employed various means, including sedimenttanks, staggered perforated batiles or the like, to prevent thenon-adhering particles of frit from entering the exhaust system andescaping to the atmosphere, or re-entering and lodging in the fresh` airsupply system. With previous methods, the overspray remained for longperiods in a wet, cement-like condition on the ba'les, collection pansand adjacent areas, and it became so contaminated with door dust anddirt that it could not be re-used. Further than that, constant andexpensive cleaning operations were required to keep the equipment inworking order, and up to the present time no means were known whichwould return the frit to its originally dry condition, so that it couldbe remixed and made available for re-use in spraying.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to obviate the foregoingdilhculties and to provide means and an economical and eliicient method,whereby the excess frit can be trapped and reclaimed for re-use.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for containing theoverspray and preventing it from accumulating on inaccessible parts inwet cement-like condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for absorbing themoisture of the overspray and dry trapping the frit, so that the lattermay be reclaimed for future use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and means wherebythe frit of the overspray in an operation of the character indicated,may be trapped and reclaimed in its original or treated, colorcondition.

A further object of the invention is to provide a disposable curtain fortrapping the oversprayed frit, which permits air passage therethroughfor proper exhaust, has sufcient absorption characteristics to removethe moisture, has a surface which permits the impingement of the frit,and has a tensile strength suicient to support the Weight of theimpinged frit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a disposable medium forreceiving the oversprayed frit, with means to dry the frit and means toremove the frit from the fabric medium and collect it for re-use.

The foregoing and other objects and the advantages of the invention willbecome more apparent as the description proceeds, reference being madefrom time to time to the accompanying drawing, forming part of thewithin disclosure, in which drawing:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view, with parts broken away,of a device embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view, with parts broken away,illustrating a moditied form of the device.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view, with parts broken away,of a still further modified form of the device embodying the invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be understood,that in the embodiment herein disclosed ICC the reference character 7indicates the housing of a spray booth, similar in construction to thespray booths disclosed in my previously issued United States LettersPatent No.

2,841,073 and No. 2,875,680. In this embodiment, a compartment isdefined by the upper, lower and side walls of the housing 7, a rear wall8 and a disposable front Wall 9, made of a curtain media as hereinafterdescribed. The interior of the housing 7 is ventilatedwith an exhauststack 8A. The curtain media 9 may be a non-woven fabric material, suchas disclosed in my previous patents, or any type of material suitablefor the purposes intended, whether the material be a woven, or non-wovenfabric, Fiberglas, paper, or any other material, which may be disposedof in practicing the process herein disclosed. In this disclosure, andin the appended claims, I do not intend to be limited to the specificmaterial, which I disclosed in my previous patents. However, thatmaterial may be used with highly satisfactory results in practicing theprocess herein disclosed. The work piece to be porcelainized isindicated by the reference character 9A, and the applicators areindicated by the reference characterI 9B.

The curtain material, or media 9, is preferably carried at the top ofthe spray booth housing 7 on a roll 10 and is fed over an idler roller11 and extends downwardly to form the front wall of the spray booth 7,in much the same manner as disclosed in my previous patents. In thisembodiment however, the curtain material, or media, 9, passes overanother idler roller 12 and extends rearwardly, as at 13, and thenpasses over a third idler roller 14, and is then picked up by acollector roll 15. The rolls and rollers 10, 11, 12 and 14 arepreferably carried by suitable shafts, which are supported in anysuitable manner by the side walls of the housing 7.

In this embodiment of the invention and in the instant process, thereturn portion 13 `of the curtain med-ia 9, provides a drying area forthe surplus porcelain or ceramic frit, which has previously impingedupon the back drop curtain media 9, in the area between the idler roller11 and the idler roller 12, during the spraying or gunning operation. Itwill be understood Ithat the excess frit which Kaccumulates on thecurtain media 9, during the spraying operation, is carried on theoutside of .the Icurtain media 9 until it reaches the brush 15, which ismounted near the rear of the housing '7 and is arranged for rotationwith Ithe shaft 17 (FIG. 2), which is supported in suitable bearings 18,which in turn are supported by the side walls 7A and '7B of the housing'7'. The brush 16 is a rotary brush preferably consisting of a pluralityof soft nylon fibers, or other suitable material, which will contact themedia 9 and gently remove from the outside surface of the curtain media9, the frit which has impinged thereon during the spraying operation.Although -I have herein disclosed a soft rotating brush action for theremoval of the porcelain particles from the return portion 13 of thecurtain 9, it will be understood that I may also remove the porcelainparticles from the curtain by an intermittent tapping or vibrating ofthe curtain, or by other means positioned adjacent to the return area 13of the curtain media 9. For example, by a scraper, such as indicated at19, or other suitable means. In this embodiment the scraper 19 ismounted, at each end, on spring-backed brackets 2l), which brackets 20are loosely mounted on the brush shaft 17 and .are arranged to exert aslight pressure on the .scraper to for-ce it against the underside of`the return portion v13:, of the cur-tain media 9.

The porcelain frit which is removed from the underside of the returnportion 13 of the curtain media 9, is preferably .fdropped into acontainer 20, which is made of metal, or 'other suitable material. Thecontainer Ztl may be of any desired shape, such as shown in FIG. 2, andmay be supported on rollers 21, or other suitable means, whereby it maybe removed from the bottom of the housing '7 through the door 2.2 (FIG.1). The container 2d is provided with an agitator 22 (FIG. 2) which isintended to agitata the rit and prevent it from solidifying into a heavymass, if such tendency is indicated. The agitator 22 is mounted on .atubular member 23, which is connected by pins 24 ito stub shafts 2:3,which may rotate in suitable bearings 26, supported by the side walls ofthe housing 7, as shown in FiG. 2. When it is desired to remove the-container 20 it is only necessary to pull the pins 24 and remove thestub shafts 25. The bottom of the container 20 is provided with anopening 26, which is preferably provided with a removable cover (notshown).

The brush shaft 17 and the stub shafts 25 are rotated by suitablepulieys 27 and 23, which in turn are rotated by a pulley 29 carried onthe shaft 30 of the roll 15. The pulley 29 is driven by another pulley29A, which in turn isdriven by a motor 31, which is mounted on top or"an offset portion of the housing 7. The motor 31 drives the pulley 29 onthe shaft 30 by means of a belt 32 and the pulleys on the shaft 3th inturn drive pulleys 27 and 28 by means of the belts 33 and 34. Although ihave shown in this embodiment pulleys and V belts, it will be understoodthat sprockets and chains may be substituted therefor.

The used portions of the curtain media 9, which are collected on theroll 15, may be disposed of through a door 35 havin-g a handle 36. Itwill be understood that the door 22, is also provided with a handle 37,and the compartment housing the roll i@ is also provided with a door 38,having a handle 39, so that a fresh roll of curtain media 9 may beinstalled in the device.

The excess frit which is collected in the container 20 is free of dustand dirt land other contaminants and is now comparatively dry and insuch a reclaimed condition that it may be re-used immediately. Differentcollecting containers 20 may be employed for different colorapplications.

In FIG. 3, I show a modiiied form of device in which an endless belt 4i)is employed to carry the fri-t to a position outside of the housing 7,as at 0.1, after the rit has been brushed or otherwise removed from theunderside ofthe curtain media 9. At position 41 the reclaimed frit isready for re-use.

in FIG. 4, I show a further moditied form of the inven-tion herein. Asuction device 43 is used to remove the frit `from the housing after ithas been dislodged from the underside of the media 9. In thisembodiment, the member 43, takes the lform of an enclosure which en*velops the brush 16, which is connected as at 44, with a suitable sourcegof vacuum power. In other respects the structure functions aspreviously described. Of course, in the modified forms shown in FIGS. 3and 4, the container or hopper 20, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is dispensedwith.

Although I have illustrated the return portion 13 of the curtain media 9as lying in a horizontal plane, it will be understood that the processof reclaiming the fri-t may also be practiced if that portion of thecurtain were positioned in a vertical, or lother angular' plane.

It is also within the contemplation of the invention to trap the frit ona curtain media 9, which may be endless, instead of as shown in FIG. 1.

It is believed that the Yoperation of the device and the process isobvious from the foregoing description.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire 4to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A continuous process of trapping and reclaiming porcelain frit whichconsists of the steps of providing a spray booth having one wall formedof a curtain of highly absorbent, `air permeable media of high tensilestrength, positioning yan Iarticle to be porcelainized in said booth infront .of said curtain wall, applying wet lporcelain frit to saidarticle in such manner that surplus porcelain frit is deposited ion anexpo-sed area of said curtain wall, moving the exposed area of saidcurtain to a drying station, drying the surplus frit on said previouslyexpose-d area and then removing said dried surplus frit from said driedcurtain area for re-use.

2. The process of claim 1, including the further step of disposing ofsaid exposed area yof said curtain after the surplus frit has been driedand removed therefrom.

3. The process of claim 1, in which the dried surplus Vfrit is removedfrom said previously exposed curtain area by means of suction.

4. The process of claim 1, including a step in which the dried surplusfrit is transported from the station of removal to a station ofreclamation.

5. A device for trapping and reclaiming surplus porcelain frit whichcomprises a spray booth having an air plenum and exhaust stack, an airpermeable, highly absorbent curtain 'of high tensile strength forming afront Wall of said booth and positioned ahead of said plenum and stackand arranged to receive air and :trit from an applicator, said curtainhaving an internal rearwardly ,directed extension which serves as adrying station, means to advance the curtain from the applicator to thedrying station, means to remove frit from said drying station and meansto collect the curtain extension after said frit is removed therefrom.

6. The structure of claim 5, including means associated with saidcur-tain extension for conveying the frit removed from said curtainextension to a reclamation station.

'7. The structure `of claim 5, in which the said frit removal meansinclude a suction system.

8. The structure of claim 5, in which said curtain extension and dryingstation is angularly positioned with respect to said curtain.

9. rThe structure of cla-im 5, in which said frit removal meanscomprises at least `one element which contacts the bottom face of saidcurtain extension.

10. The `structure oi claim 5, in which said frit removal meanscomprises -a power driven rotating element which contacts the bottomface of said curtain extension.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 821,776 5/06Zoller. 1,529,134 3/ 25 Kelter. 2,106,187 1/38 Naugler 118-326 XR2,486,877 11/49 Ransburg et al. 118-326 XR 2,509,276 5/50 Ransburg etal. 118-628 2,752,003 6/56 Hersey et al. 98-115 2,795,516 6/57 Miller118-626 XR 2,841,073 7/58 Forshee 98-1-15 2,875,680 3/59 Forshee 98-1152,897,743 8/59 Marantz 118-326 X FOREIGN PATENTS 828,032 1/52 Germany.

RICHARD D. NEVIUS, Primary Examiner.

1. A CONTINUOUS PROCESS OF TRAPPING AND RECLAIMING PORCELAIN FRIT WHICHCONSISTS OF THE STEPS OF PROVIDING A SPRAY BOOTH HAVING ONE WALL FORMEDOF A CURTAIN OF HIGHLY ABSORBENT, AIR PERMEABLE MEDIA OF HIGH TENSILESTRENGTH, POSITIONING AN ARTICLE TO BE PORCELAINIZED IN SAID BOOTH INFRONT OF SAID CURTAIN WALL, APPLYING WET PORCELAIN FRIT TO SAID ARTICLEIN SUCH MANNER THAT SURPLUS PORCELAIN FRIT IS DEPOSITED ON AN EXPOSEDAREA OF SAID CURTAIN WALL, MOVING THE EXPOSED AREA OF SAID CURTAIN TO ADRYING STATION, DRYING THE SURPLUS FRIT ON SAID PREVIOUSLY EXPOSED AREAAND THEN REMOVING SAID DRIED SURPLUS FRIT FROM SAID DRIED CURTAIN AREAFOR RE-USE.